Automobile lifting device



Feb. l2, 1929. 1,701,803

, H. c. BUFFINGTON AUTOMOBILE LIFTING DEVICE Filed OCT.. l, 1927 ,fig

Patented Feb, 12, 1929,

entre srrss HARRY C. BUFFINGTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, LLINOS, ASSIGNOR T WEAVER MANU- FACTURING oMPANY, 0F SPRNGFIELD, ILLINOS, A GORPORTIGN OF ILLINGS.

nuroiuoninn Linterna nnvron.

Application ed. October 1, 19%7. Serial No. 223,369.k

means now in common use tor such Imrpose requires some little time 'for its proper attachment to the vehicle and there is always a substantial danger ot injury to the finish ot' the car and damage to its usual protecting apron and tenders.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple structure `for this purpose, which may be easily and quickly applied to the vehicle Without peril or risk of harm to or marring` ot any of the parts of the car, the new device lirmly grippingthe iront portion of the automobile and permitting itto be lifted and transported thereby, the apparatus being capable of facile and quick detachment therefrom when its service no longer required. Y

To permit 'those acquainted with this and analogous arts to have a complete comprehension ot the structural and operating` advantages incident to the employment ot the invention, in the associated drawing, constitutino` a part of this specication, a vpresent, desirable embodiment of the invention has been shown in detail, like reference numerals being' used to designate the saine parts wherever they are illustrated.

1n this drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view ot a towingl truck connected through a hoist and the new lifting' attachment to the front end ot an injn red automobile and liigure 2 is an elevation ot the lifting device.

Referring to this drawing, it will be observed that the novel and improved attaching or connecting` appliance comprises a hook-shaped member, characterized as a whole 11, having an eye or loop 12 at the upper end et its shank, its lower part 13 being bent or rdetlected outwardly in hook 'form and then upwardly at 14, the inner edge ot the latter near its top having a suitable showing' parts ofthe vehicle in dotted recess 15 adapted to receive a portionot` one oi"- the front springs of the car.

'shorter, companion or complementary element, denominated as a Whole 16, has reversely formed parts 13, 14 and 15 intended and designed lor cooperation with the second iront spring' of the vehicle, the two, similar, associa-ted members 11 and 16 being pivotally or hingedly connected together at 17 a short distance below the ring 12.

A chain or other suitable or convenient loop 2i surrounds the Shanks or both membf.-

and is adapted, when permitted by its size, to automatically siide down them preventing their Nfurther spreading apart by reason of `its confining and restraining; action thereon.

liilhen it is desired to raise the front end et a damaged car 18, preliminary to dragging it away for repairs, by means of a serv- 'ce-truck 19 equipped with a hoist 20 havingv a chain tackle and its attachment hook 21, the double-hook liftingn device, in contracted condition, mounted on the hook 21 which its ring, 12, is placed in front ot the radiator of the automobile, its lower, outwardly, opliiositely-extended, curved seetions 13, 13 being then moved manually to extendV beneath the front springs 22, 22 and the adjacent apron or splash guard 23,' and chassis frame members, the recesses 15, 15 receiving the outer parts of the two springs.

l'lfhen the hoist elevates the hoolr Z1 and such lifting,v attachment, the weight of the tront'part or he car is imposed througdi its springs on the two hook-members 1'1 and 1G and their common pivot 17 and their centers of' gravity'are so located that such ioad tends to pull or rock the tvvo members inwardly toward one another, thus causing them to grasp the springs tightly, the chain flo-op slidingdown the straight portions or shanhs oit suoli elements prevent-ingan accidental or unintentional detaclnnent of' the hooks from the springs.

lifhile the front part of the car is held raisedA in this manner, the truck can pull or tow the damaged automobile behind it Without danger of the connection between the two becoming broken or detached or disunited, it being obvious, that, the heavier the load is, the firmer the hooks grip and clasp the springs, and such properengagement of the specified members is further assured by the chain loop which automatically slides down the Shanks or stems of the hooks and locks them together in their springgripping positions.

lVhen it .is desired to release the lifting and holding` device, the automobile having,` been lowered so that its weight is no longer imposed thereon, the chain loop is raised adequately to release the two hooks, whereupon they may be spread apart enoughto free them from the vehicle-springs.

Thereupon. they collapse automatically suiiiciently to permit ready upward removal between the springs and associated parts of the vehicle without contact with any portion of the car, even though the latter may be equipped with a front bumper` From the foregoing. it will be apparentthat the crook or hook portions of this device are formed in such a way that the usual apron or splash guard on lthe vehicle provided at the inner sides of the springs and frame at the front of the automobile are wholly avoided in the attachment, -use and demounting of the new appliance. and it is obvious that this device can be quickly applied to and removed from almost any standard make of auton'iobile, inasmuch as practically all have this form of front end con* struction.

In some aises, it may not be necessary or feasible to use the confining' or restricting slidiirer loop, which, when employed acts automatically hy its own weightto'lock the hooks firmly against the springs, but it will be understood that if such element is omitted, the hooks themselves will have an adequate grasp on the springs to perform the intended functions.

Those skilled in this art will readily understand that many minor mechanical changes maybe incorporated in the single embodiment of the invention presented, without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the sacritice of any of its material or substantial benefits or advantages.

I claim:

l. A vehicle-lifting' appliance, comprisiuj.)Y in combination, a pair of hook-shaped inembers the Shanks of which are hinged together near their upper ends, the lower hook portions thcreof projecting;l outwardly in opposite directions and then upwardly and adapted to extend beneath the pair of springs of a vehicle with their upwardlydirected ends outside of and recessed on their inner faces to receive such springs. and means on at least one of said members for the attachment of hoisting mechanism. said appliance being adapted to'lift the vehicle, b v engagement with the springs only thereof.

2. A vehicle-lifting appliance. comprising in combination. a pair of hooleshaped members the shanhs of which are hinged together near their upper ends. the lower hook portions thereof proiecting outwardly in opposite directions and then upwardly and adapted to extend beneath the pair of springs of a vehicle with their upwardly directed ends outside of and recessed on their inner faces to receive such springs, iii-:fans on at least one of said members for the attachment of hoisting` mechanism, said appliance being adapted to lift the vehicle by engagement with the springs only thereof, and a loop around and slidable lengthwise of said hook shanks and adapted 'to lock said hook-members together in springfgrasping relation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY C. BUFFINGTON. 

